14 Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Greenland

Greenland is icy, mysterious, and one of the most naturally beautiful places on the planet. The world's biggest non-continental island is so much more than glaciers (although the glaciersare spectacular)—think magnificent fjords, colorful villages, fields of sheep, and that ever-alluring midnight sun. So hop on a flight, pull on your anorak, and start exploring.

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A beautiful arch iceberg floats in Scoresby Sund, the largest fjord in the world. Located in the Greenland Sea, Scoresby Sund's main structure stretches approximately 68 miles and branches out into side fjords that cover about 14,700 square miles.

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Uummannaq, a town in northwestern Greenland, has a population of around 1,250, including one very famous resident—Santa Claus. The colorful village is named after the 3,855-foot-tall mountain it sits below.

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Dried cod hang outside in Uummannaq. Greenland's harsh climate makes it difficult to grow produce, so the cuisine is heavily based on meat and seafood.

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A boat sails through Disko Bay off the western coast of Greenland. The body of water is known for its impressive icebergs and adjacent coastal settlements, like Ilulissat and Ilimanaq.

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A humpback whale calf breaches in Disko Bay. This is a common sighting during the summer season (April to November), when humpbacks hunt these waters for food.

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A reindeer wanders around the western town of Kangerlussuaq, known for (yep) its international airport—one of only two in the country large enough to receive large airlines. Reindeer have been living in Greenland for thousands of years, and sightings are a common occurrence for tourists.

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A flock of fulmars gather on top of a massive iceberg. The gliding birds resemble seagulls and are often seen flying around Disko Bay and the waters of northern Greenland.

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The western town of Ilulissat draws tourists for two main reasons: dog sledding and the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord. The Icefjord covers 155 square miles and contains Sermeq Kujalleq, one of the fastest-moving and most active glaciers on the planet.

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Thousands of sled dogs live in Ilulissat, nearly matching the human population. The animals spend the winter months (typically January through April) hauling tourists and locals around the snowy country. This slower-paced mode of transportation is ideal for taking in the surrounding Arctic landscapes, plus, it's a necessity, as the country has no railways and very few roads connecting towns.

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An arctic fox stands guard in Ataa, a small village about 40 miles north of Ilussiat that was abandoned in the early 1960s. Greenland has two races of arctic fox: the white arctic fox, which lives in the tundra, and the blue arctic fox, which is found closer to the coasts.

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The Northern Lights appear over Kangerlussuaq. Given its extreme northern location and clear visibility, Greenland is one of the best places to experience the rare spectacle. The ideal viewing season is between September and April.

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Climbers stand atop Survey Canyon, a narrow, winding river fed by Lake Meighan. The photo was captured by James Balog, who published his book ICE: Portraits of Vanishing Glaciers in 2012 to show visual proof of the effects of climate change.

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Houses line the coast in Nuuk, Greenland's capital city, with Sermitsiaq Mountain in the background. Nuuk has a population of around 17,000 and is known for its colorful houses, iceberg views, and its mummy-filled Greenland National Museum.

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A polar bear and her two cubs stand on a pack of ice on the northeast coast of Greenland. It's rare to see these magnificent animals near inhabited areas—your greatest chance for a sighting would be on boat trips in northern waters (or on the Greenland national coat of arms).